Deer Island, in the Columbia River, was named
by Lewis and Clark. They first visited the island on November
5, 1805, on their way down the Columbia and again on March
28, 1806, on their return. It was on the second visit that
the party had good luck getting venison. Captain Lewis noted
in his diary that the Indian name for the island was E-lal-Iar,
or Deer Island. The compiler is unable to identify this Indian
word. The town of Deer Island, which is on the mainland, was
named for the island. The post office was established in 1887.